Manual vs Automatic Cars

[Chopppywaters]

Other than the fun of a manual stick shift automobile what is the benefit that Manual cars have over Automatic cars? Im thinking of getting a Jeep Wrangler and i dunno if i should get stick or automatic

[Biggles]

Hi Choppy,

This is predominantly a UK Forum.

In the US you all use Auto because thats the done thing and fuel is cheap.

In the UK auto is quite rare on any car. it costs more and fuel consumption is worse.

My advice. If you are going to buy a 4 X 4 (SUV), then get a diesel with manual box. That is the ultimate setup for SUV. Loads of low down torque and you choose when to change gear.

I have a feeling Diesel engines with manual box on an American car are quite rare.

But having said so, you might be able to get it relatively cheap becuase thats not wanted.

Having said all that. if you can get a V8 petrol engine and afford to run it then get the auto box.

As i said at the start the UK and US are entirely different environments and markets and so different cars/engines suit each but not both.

Ask your US friends. They should give a better answer.

[codprawn]

A lot depends on the type of engine - what it will be used for etc etc.

An automatic is not as efficient as a manual so will use more fuel and have less power.

In theory an automatic is slower but in practice not always - when you see the 0-60 times on cars they really thrash them - a manual will soon burn out it's clutch if you rev it to 5000 and let go!!!

Offroad an auto is better for creeping over rocks and going uphill - a manual is better for engine breaking going down.

A lot of people don't drive an auto properly - it really helps to use it a bit like a manual and change down for engine braking etc.

I find big engined petrol vehicles tend to suit an auto better than a high revving unit or a diesel.

As an example a Range Rover V8 is great as an auto - a ferrari would be far better as a manual.

Or on a smaller scale a 1.0l Nissan Micra is better as a manual whilst a 2.5 mondeo works fine as an auto.

[Chopppywaters]

Originally Posted by codprawn

A lot depends on the type of engine - what it will be used for etc etc.

An automatic is not as efficient as a manual so will use more fuel and have less power.

In theory an automatic is slower but in practice not always - when you see the 0-60 times on cars they really thrash them - a manual will soon burn out it's clutch if you rev it to 5000 and let go!!!

Offroad an auto is better for creeping over rocks and going uphill - a manual is better for engine breaking going down.

A lot of people don't drive an auto properly - it really helps to use it a bit like a manual and change down for engine braking etc.

I find big engined petrol vehicles tend to suit an auto better than a high revving unit or a diesel.

As an example a Range Rover V8 is great as an auto - a ferrari would be far better as a manual.

Or on a smaller scale a 1.0l Nissan Micra is better as a manual whilst a 2.5 mondeo works fine as an auto.

makes sense

[Chopppywaters]

o and Biggles your definetly correct about the rareness of a diesel manual...i dont even think thats an option from a dealership around here

[bogib]

Diesel options for JEEP´s in US not an option, and I am astonished American thinking of sticky shifting all I know over there have automatic.

My American cars (Chrysler LHS and Hummer H1) are both automatic then European brands (Freelander, VW´s ) are all sticky shifters, my old Jeep Wagoneer was sticky shifty one and do not recommend that same goes for my old Ford Econoline terrible so keep yourself to automatic for American made even the former East German car manufacturer Trabant has better sticky shifter than American ones.

Bogi

This is my Jón Baldur´s Trabant

[jwalker]

Buy auto in all cases. Smoother, quieter, better control of traction, seriously less tedious in town etc, etc. Folk will say you just get used to changing gear on a manual. I'm sure you do but I bet you get used to bumping your head on a wall too.

Folk are living in the past re fuel efficiency, better suited to petrol/diesel etc.

As an example, it has not been possible to buy a manual Range Rover for many years. I wonder why?

[Chopppywaters]

Originally Posted by jwalker

I'm sure you do but I bet you get used to bumping your head on a wall too.

heh thats another big problem I havta learn how to drive a "sticky shift" efficiently heh


k i think im stickin with automatic

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Buy auto in all cases. Smoother, quieter, better control of traction, seriously less tedious in town etc, etc. Folk will say you just get used to changing gear on a manual. I'm sure you do but I bet you get used to bumping your head on a wall too.

Folk are living in the past re fuel efficiency, better suited to petrol/diesel etc.

As an example, it has not been possible to buy a manual Range Rover for many years. I wonder why?

Not that long actually - 2002 to be exact!!! I think the main reason is that most range Rovers sold are petrol V8s whilst most Discoverys sold are diesel.

I disagree about living in the past re fuel/suitability. For example the diesel Audi A4 auto I had averaged only about 38mpg whilst the manual version was nearer 48mpg. This was mainly motorway work - about town it is possibly the other way around!!!

Also the Discovery TD5 auto was criticised for being slow(ZF auto) at first so they remapped it which gave it similar performance to the manual - result 22mpg instead of 30.

Don't get me wrong I LOVE autos - my RR V8 is auto and I wouldn't have it any other way but some cars just seem to work better as a manual.

And as far as the new breed of paddle style autos in Ferraris etc goes - yuch!!! They are normal manual boxes with a computer controlled clutch so don't have any of the losses caused by fluid boxes but they do the clutch no favours at all. Because the driver has no control over it he tends to drive it as a normal auto which means when parking or creeping in traffic the clutch is constantly slipping!!! Most drivers would never drive a normal manual that way.

[Jackwabbit]

The only Auto I’ve ever owned was a Vauxhall Carlton, which was fantastic until I hooked up the boat or caravan. At UK towing speed of 60MPH it was permanently hunting between 2nd & 3rd gear, every time it would drop into 3rd it would slow down until it dropped back into 2nd then it would pick up really well, so the only option was to tow at 50MPH in second or 70 in 3rd.

Not that I would do the latter of course